74


strong. Sunday 15th


Jack Lowe’s Lifeboat Station Project. Five years and still going


March was the turn


of RNLI Dart to be photographed using Victorian photographic methods. We were station number 150 out of 238 to be visited in what is an amazing project and is taking up Jack Lowe’s life!


So why did it take so long to take


four photos? Watching the process unfold it is evident that the method of creating a 12x12 inch glass plate photograph is exceptionally task focussed and time consuming. He is travelling around the coast in ‘Neena’ – a converted ambulance and mobile dark room. ‘Neena’ smells a little of the chemicals which are used in the developing process, and is perfectly set up to assist in the process from blank glass to a wonderful and incredibly sharp photograph. Firstly Jack set up the camera with the desired shot and briefed those involved. We were asked to look natural, not grimace, to lean against something so that we were not moving and enjoy the moment. He then had to tweak the camera again – checking it is level and the light requirements satisfactory, which was not easy on a cloudy, often rainy, day. The photograph was taken by


removing the lens cap from the front of the tripod mounted camera for about 5 seconds. He then took the frame back to ‘Neena’ and developed the photograph under the watchful gaze of the crew involved. Photos were taken of the station


crew, helms, crew and the female volunteers. Jack talked to many of the crew and reading his blog it appears that he does this with every station in an attempt to learn as much as he can about the RNLI volunteers. The crew at RNLI Dart are looking forward to seeing the finished products and showcasing the photographs on the wall of the lifeboat station in Coronation Park.


Above: Photographer Jack Lowe - The Lifeboat Station Project is a documentary project about the lifeboat volunteers, for the lifeboat volunteers. Jack works as the Victorians used to, making the photographs on glass from his mobile darkroom.


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